Lightweight structure especially for an aircraft and method for making such a structure

a technology for aircraft and lightweight structures, applied in the field of aircraft construction, can solve the problems of low static strength characteristic of fiber reinforced laminates compared to monolithic materials, limited production of fiber reinforced laminates, and high cost of fiber reinforced laminate production, so as to increase the useful life of lightweight structures, reduce crack propagation, and reduce the effect of damage toleran

US20050112347A1Active Publication Date: 2005-05-26AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2005-05-26

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Abstract

An additional fiber reinforced layer reduces crack propagation in a lightweight structure of an outer skin adhesively bonded to a reinforcing frame. For this purpose the additional fiber reinforced layer is interposed between the outer skin and the frame and adhesively bonded to the outer skin and to the frame. The additional layer has reinforcing fibers extending in parallel to each other or the reinforcing fibers are woven into a fabric embedded in a synthetic adhesive bonding material. The embedding of the parallel fibers or of the fiber fabric in the bonding material is performed either prior to the bonding or during the bonding of the additional layer to the outer skin and to the reinforcing frame.
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Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application is based on and claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application 103 30 708.7, filed on Jul. 8, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Lightweight structures are used primarily in aircraft construction, particularly aircraft bodies including an outer skin adhesively bonded to a framework. The invention also relates to a method for constructing such a lightweight structure by adhesive bonding. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0003] Lightweight structures for use in the aircraft and spacecraft technologies include an outer skin which is strengthened on its inner surface by a reinforcement or stiffening framework. Such a framework is in fact a three dimensional structure but may be referred to as being “two-dimensional” to distinguish the framework from a three-dimensional aircraft or spacecraft body. An aircraft body, for example, is constructed as a lightweight structur...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a view onto a broken away section of an aircraft lightweight body structure including a frame or framework FW of ribs R1, R2, R3 extending circumferentially around the longitudinally aircraft axis while stringers S1, S2, S3 extend parallel to the longitudinal aircraft axis. The ribs and stringers are adhesively bonded to the inwardly facing surface of an outer skin 2. A plane extending perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet of the drawing and designated by arrows I-I illustrates the position of a reinforcing layer in the perspective view of FIG. 1 between the outer skin 2 and a stringer S2 in the framework FW. More specifically, the reinforcement layers according to the invention are positioned between the outer skin 2 and the ribs, or between the outer skin and the stringers or between the outer skin and the ribs and stringers.

[0024]FIG. 1 shows a reinforcing layer 1 bonded by an adhesive matrix 1A to an outer skin 2 and to a stringer S2. The reinforcing laye...